For the three years I have been in college, Spring Semester is the semester that runs away from me. Maybe it is the improving weather? For this semester, perhaps it was re-engaging on and off campus after a semester abroad? Whichever, I apologize for being behind in this blog that I - promised to keep up with.
The weekend of March 30-April 1 was an incredible weekend for me this year. I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful experience that Syracuse Alumni, Linda Dulye has created for Syracuse Students: The Dulye Leadership Experience. Basically, it is an intense-professional-job-skill-building-boot-camp for Syracuse Students. It is aimed to transport us physically, mentally, and emotionally to a higher ground of preparedness as we graduate college and enter the tough job market. As someone who has been weighing Grad School vs. Career for my post May 2013 life, this was an excellent leadership seminar.
From the brochure: "Now in its fifth year, the DLE offers powerful techniques, knowledge and networks to help you- the select group of 14 SU juniors and seniors comprising the DLE Class of 2012- to make the leap from college graduate to new hire."
Here were the program goals:
- Provide skills and tools to help shape students' future career path after graduation
- Promote goal setting on both personal and professional levels
- Provide a roadmap that gets students on the track for success in the real world
- Deliver a network of experienced leaders who serve as coaches and mentors during the program, and well beyond, helping students navigate the cultural, operational and political dynamics of business.
...but this is unlike any other "leadership experience" I have ever heard of. For three days, 14 of us traveled to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts for an all-expense, paid for conference comprised of real post-grads, CEOS, and successful business wo/men offering worth-while tips for me- in the now.
Here are some of the most valuable tips from the speakers that I wanted to share with my friends and family:
From Anne McCarthy, Client Analyst, Burson-Marsteller
"Get Uncomfortable in your new job"
- Move beyond your comfort zone
- Take on "dirty work"
- Be confident: identify problems and propose soultions
- Know when to tell people what you are doing
- Watch how you conduct yourself in a conference call vs. at a bar. Co-workers notice everything.
From Kendell Bryant, Strategic Consultant, CSC
"Let your interests and passions guide you"
- Set up a professional dashboard following trends and articles related to your new field
- Participate in Toastmasters at SU or off campus
- Activate the resources on campus to help land you a job, i.e. Orangelink
- Update that resume often
- Re-invent yourself to help your profile stand out
From David Bartell, Director of Development. Syracuse University
"What do you do in social situations?"
- Have a goal in mind: how many people do you want to network with/meet today
- NO shoulder surfing to spot another person when you are engaging with someone
- Introduce yourself accurately; introduce others, if you can, to show you care about the environment
- Keep one hand free (hold your drink in the hand you don't shake with)
- Stay in the "safe zone" of conversation; no politics, religion, income
- Be appropriate with your napkin at the dinner table
- Follow the lead of your host when ordering drinks/dinner
- Food to mouth, not mouth to food when you are eating
- Pace yourself!
From Rich Armstrong, VP/GM, DRS Power Technology
"Put people before progress"
"Ask clarifying questions while you are the new-guy"
- What's needed?, In What format?, What's the overarching purpose?
- Be a good communicator
- Don't think you know everything
From Brian Burlingame, Senior Director, Pfizer
"Learn how to take calculated risk"
- Always be yourself; relate to people on a "human level"
- Never pass up an opportunity to meet people
- Stay in touch with people you have met/worked for: technology makes it easy
- Revamp that resume every six months
- Create a list of places you could see yourself working
- Keep a journal about who you've met, where they work, when they said they would follow-up
From Sue Edelstein, President/Founder, The Edelstein Group
"So... tell me about yourself"
- Don't list tasks on a resume; list positive outcomes or purposes of projects (accomplishment driven)
- Know why you want to work "here"
- Know the job function
- Talk to employees past/present
- Learn the culture of the company
- Track current events
- Be a consumer yourself
- Study the competition
- Research the annual reports
From Daniel Thompson, Regional VP, Capacity Coverage Company
"Small talk is a fundamental concept"
- Make eye contact (visual)
- Vary your tone of voice (vocally)
- What is it you want to talk about? (verbally)
From Linda Dulye, President/Founder, Dulye & Co.
"Communicating for Success"
- Be inclusive (use "talk with" vs. "talk to")
- Be interactive: relay, relate, receive, and respond to information
- Mix your media
- Nail your message: why is it important?
- Tune in: open ended vs. closed ended questions
- Never lead a bad meeting (PACER structure: purpose, agenda, conduct, expectations, responsibilities)
- Follow-through and follow-up with everyone
- Recognize others, simply: birthdays, significant events, achievements in the office
From Matthew Keator, Partner, Keator Group
"Always live below your income"
- Establish a savings account with a "bunker" (six months worth of expenses: rent, car payments, college loans)
- Have a checking account that can be used with a debit card- forces you to live with what you have
- Open up one credit card
- Open a retirement account: 401k or RotnIRA
Overall it was an incredible weekend full of incredibly knowledgeable and helpful people. I learned a lot about myself and what I want to do. At the end of the conferences, we were divided into teams to create and propose a business plan- hopefully drawing on all the components of the weekend. My team, who created a business called "Blitz," is based off the old concept of speed-dating to assist the job hunt. We won the competition at the end of the weekend! I will take many of these skills with me into job interviews in the near future. I not only feel more prepared, but more confident about what I can bring to any job.
